Improvement in hydeocaebon-bueners



@nitro tatrs @anni @frn BARBIE EVERETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters .Patent No. 79,563, dated July 7, 1868; antedated February 8,1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN HYDROCARBON-BURNERS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, Hamm; Evnunrr, of New York, in the county and Stateof New York, have invented a new and useful Improved Liquid-FuelFurnace; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear7and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in theart to make` and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, forming part of this specification, in which drawing- Figure 1represents a longitudinal section of this invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section thereof, and

Figure 3 is a partial horizontal section of the same.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of a furnace forburning petroleum and other liquid hydrocarbons, in the generation ofsteam, for the smelting of ores, and for other purposes, in such a l,manner as to secure the most perfect combustion of said fuel, as well asthe production and maintenance of the highest degree of temperature,while at the same time thesupply of the fuel to the furnace is easilyregulated, and the greatest economy thereof secured.

In order that the prineipaltfeatures of this invention may be moreprominently set forth, it is proper here to state that only two distinctmodes of burning the above-named ingredients have been patented ortried, namely, the retort or vaporizer, and the open or surface-burningsystems. In the iirst, the material is lcd into a close vessel orretort, volatilized by the application of heat, then discharged andburned as a. gas or vapor.` This method has been found, in practice, tobe attended with danger, and the interior of the retort soon becomesencrusted by the heavier products of the oil adhering to'and burning onit, whereby the vaporization becomes gradually slower, and the tire fromthe jets gradually dies out. The surface-burner, though superior to theother, and of more general application, possesses several radicaldefects, such as the escape of a large pery centage of unconsumedcombustible matter, there being no suitable method of arresting andretaining the same for complete combustion. This bears directly upon thequestion of the economy of using hydrocarbons as a fuel.

As the result of several years experience in all the various methods ofburning the above ingredients as fuel, I have demonstrated mostconclusively that the greater the degree of heat maintained in andaround the y apparatus when working, the less oil is consumed inproportion to produce given results.

It is well known that none of the, contrivnnces hithertopatented canmaintain a continuous heat of more than about 300, while, in order toreach the point of greatest economy and perfect combustion, there shouldbe continually prevailing a temperature of as many thousand degrees ofheat. To secure this and other impor-` tant results is the object of myliquid-fuel furnace.

Avoiding the defects and retaining thc merits of the other systems, Isecure, by this combination, all that is valuable inboth, with other andnew results of the most satisfactory character. I am thus enabled todemonstrate the superiority of hydrocarbons over coal, for economy,convenience, bulk, Ste., as a steam fuel for metallurgie and many otherpurposes.

I will now describe my said method and apparatus more particularly, withthe manner of constructing andworking the same.

Ihe appearance of the apparatus as a whole resembles an oblong letter,ci, resting upon its dat side. The lower or fiat part A is the burnerproper, while the semicircular portion I3, joined with the other,constitutes the ccmbustion-ehamber of the furnace. Both parts may bemade of ordinary lire-brick or tire-clay, or any material capable ofresisting intense heat, and of retaining or reflceting heat withouttransmitting it. The upper portieri B should lalways be made of this orsimilar material, while, for all ordinary purposes, thelower part A maybe made of cast iron or other metal, as the blast thrown against thispart is always sufficient t0 prevent melting. The style and shape ofeither part will depend upon the uses and places in which it is to beput. The two sections, when united, form a complete combustion-chamber.For some uses, it will be found vases 2 desirable to have the opening oroutlet a, for the flame and heat, at one end or one side only; for otherpurposes, at both ends or sides.

The upper segment of the combustion-chamber proper is constructed toform a hollow chamber, b, which here constitutes the crown of the arch,and occupies about one-tenth of the elongated semicircle described bythe walls of the furnace, and runs longitudinally through the entirestructure, as shown at fig. 1. Into this chamber I conduct either steamor atmospheric air, by means of one or more pipes c, which steam or airspeedily becomes superh'eated, and is discharged into the burning massbelow, throughjcts or openings pierced in the upper interior portion ofthe furnace, which forms the door of the rarefying-chamber b. Perfectcombustion is thus facilitated, and the heat thereby intensied. y

By filling this chamber from time to time with iron filings, coke, orother material, which, when heated and supplied with water or steam,will assist in producing hydrogen gas, I also secure favorable resultsin intensifying heat and'economizing fuel. `Access to this chamber,whenever it may be deemed desirable to supply it with thesehydrogen-generating substances, may be had by arranging a small movablesection in front, in the direction of lines e, iig. l, or at any otherconvenient point.

Arranged substantially as above, the desideratum so long sought for isattained, viz, the presence in the combustion-chamber of severalthousand degrees of heat, and consequently the economical and perfectcombustion and utilization, without waste, of all the elements of heatof which the ingredients used are capable.

If used in a boiler, the grate-bars should be removed, and the apparatusput in their place should only occupy so much space as toleave ampleroom on both sides and top, and generally at the back, for the llame andheat 'to impingeand actupon all the tubes, iues, and entirewater-surface' of the boiler.

Special care should be taken that suihcient room be left between thecombustion-chamber and front of the fire-box, so that the flame mayissue and' spread without coming in contact with the tire-door. As aguide in constructing the apparatus, due regard being had toproportions, its actual oil-surfaces, including also the airspaces ofthe burner part, need not exceed one-third of the ordinarygrate-surface. As a general rule, this is applicable to all cases anduses to which the liquid-fuel furnace may be applied. l

The upper surface of the base of the combustion-chamber or theburner-plate A, as shown at fig. 3, when said base is constructed ofmetal, resembles a large pan, with a number of corrugations or hollowribs, fl, which, being open at top, and still wider open at bottom,serve as air-channels and alternate burner-grooves, which, havingelevated rims to prevent the escape of oil, admit a full supply, and auintermixture of oxygen with the oil at the earliest point of combustion.For instance, in a fifteen-horsepower boiler, two superficial feet ofoil and air-surface or interior space would be quite suilieient for theburner. Three corrugations or ribs, at equal distances therein, twoinches high, with a continuous slot or opening, of iive-eighths of aninch at top and seveneighths underneath, and with the rim or outerupright portion of the panor burner one-half inch higher, to' secure theescape of uneonsumed oil through the air-slots, and not in front, shouldan excess be accidentally admitted to the burner-surface, and athree-inch flange on each side, to be inserted in the brick-work, willbe about right, and, in connection with the drawings, answer as a guidein constructing an apparatus for any purpese whatever. y

The refractor e, as seen inthe drawing, is of cast iron or othermaterial, in T-shape, and is fastened on and rests over the ribs,extending its sharp edge slightly down into tlie'aircliannel or slot.lhis is for the purpose of dividing the current of air, and 'for causingit to turn down and interminglelnore intimately with the free carbon atthe point of ignition. There should be usually about half an inch ofclear air-space allowed under either side of each refractor. Between theair-duets, channels, or slots, at any point along. the longitude oftheslotted plate A, issue the oil-supply' pipes,f. It may be better ifthese ends or branches terminate with a T, as shown atf, fig. 1, for thebetter delivery of the oil, all being regulated by one-supply-pipe andone stop-cock Outside.

When preferable, the supply of, oil may be through the sides or ends ofthe burner-plate, near the bottom, instead ofissuing directly lthroughthe bottom, :is shown atfff, 3.

Pieces of broken {irse-brick, about the size of a small chestnut, orpieces of any similar material, in one or more layers, placed in thechannels ofthe burner, form a goed burner-surface, although notessential to success.

The air-chaniber c, underneatlifmaybe made of cast, plate, or sheetiron, of suitable depth, of similar width and length of theburner-plate, and attached thereto, air and steam-tight, by any suitablemeans, substantially as shown in the drawings. Into this is set anair-duct or funnel, D, which extends outward suihcientlyto secure astrong draught, through which funnel is led a steam-pipe, g, to promotethe draught, essentially as shown in iig. 3, or in any other manner toeffect the same purpose. Through this pipe ajct of steam may bedischarged, when required to increase the'draught, as well as to agitateand refract or spray the hydrocarbon from its position on theburner-plate throughout the entire combustion-chamber. It is alsoarranged and contemplated to use and take a blast from an air-holder, orfrom any air-forcingmachine, with but slight change, in ease a greatersupply is required for heating ores, metals, and for any purposewhatever.

In the heating, sinelting, and manufacture of the various ores andmetals, as well as for numerous other purposes, a pure flame and mostintense heat are necessary. It is the object ot' this invention tofurnish those requisites, and, by the variety of its forms and facilityet' adaptation, to meet every requirement of human industry, when anefficient heating-agent may be required. l

By means of the annexed drawings and foregoing explanations, the wholeprocess and application being 'so very simple and plain, almost anyperson may be able to construct and operate my burner. 1

Constructed and arranged substantially as above,- the necessaryconnections with an elevated oil-tank and with steam being made, withthe ordinary stop-cocks in the intervening pipes, the whole apparatus isreadyv to be put in operation.

This is done-by simply turning the oil-cock, permitting a small quantityto How into the channels of the burner, then lighting it with a. candleor piece of lighted paper or shaving. If it be desired to heat up withgreat rapidity, a forced blast .is to be applied in one of the methodsherein provided for.

Special carem'ust be taken that all doors or openings through which airmay enter, except through the funnel D, be hermetic'ally tight, as verymuch depends on the draught and the manner of admitting it.

The approximate amount of oil being burned, and the degree of heatproduced or desired, may always be seen by noting the color of the amethrough a small eye-hole or pane, of mica or other indestructibletransparent substance, directly in front of the burner. Very slightobservation will enable any person to regulate all this with greataccuracy. l

As soon as the furnace has become well heated, the proper proportionset' the ingredients admitted may be readily arranged, the gauges set,and the whole left to run with but the slightest attention.

The red smoky lame indicates the presence of unconsulned carbon, andcontains the least heat, and even the pure white flame is not thehottest.v The oxyhydrogen ame, slightly earburetted,of a thin,bluish-silvery color, emitting no smoke or vapor from thechimney,vindicates the point of greatest economy in fuel, perfectcombustion, and mostintense heat. This accomplished, the process andapparatus may b e considered in perfect working operation. v

InA using my furnace, constructed as described, as a steam-generator, itis inserted in thefront part of the boiler, the interior water-line ofwhich is shown at s, and a portion of the ues of which are seen in therear of the furnace in gs. land 2. The chimney, being situated in therear of the boiler, the flame is drawnbackward, over and around betweenthe exterior surface of the furnace D and the re-surface'of the boiler,at z, thereby exposing extensive boiler-surfaces tothe action of theintense heat generated by the combustion of the liquid fuel.

What I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States, is-

1. A liquid-fuel furnace, constructed sbstantially as described, and asand for the purposes specied. 2. The combustion-chamber B, in the formof an elongated semicircle, constructed of fire-proof material,

vandsupplied with the rarefying-chamber b and the pipe` or pipes c, foradmitting air cr steam thereto, theiwhole forming the upper portion of aliquid-fuel furnace, in combination with thecorrugated andslotted-burnerlplate A, forming the base thereof, the whole arrangedsubstantially as. and for thepurposes specified.

The refractor e, for dividing and distributing the jets of team orcurrents of air, arranged substantially as and for the purposes setforth. Y

4. The mode, herein described, of admitting and employing liquid fuel,air, and steam through and upon the burner-plate A, together withsuperheated air or steam admitted through the rarefying-chamber b, lforthe purpose of' facilitating the combustion of said fuel, the wholearranged substantially as described.

HARRIE EVERETT.

Witnesses:

L. A. CpLE, J. H. WELLS.

